Welcome.us

Are you interested in becoming a sponsor? Do you have questions about how to start this impactful journey? Join Welcome.US for our Live Information Session on July 23.

Meet with Welcome.US staff who can answer any questions you have about the sponsor journey. Learn about what it means to be a sponsor, who is seeking sponsorship, and how to embark on the process to sponsorship. You’ll get a live demo of our Welcome Connect platform and have time to ask questions to our Welcome.US team.

Register today for our next session at noon (EST), Tuesday, July 23.

https://welcome.us/info-sessions

This session is for Americans who are interested in learning more about sponsoring an individual or family who they do not know.

After enduring years of torture by kidnappers near the border of Sudan, then escaping to Israel, Sami met Ruta, who shared a similarly challenging journey. The two married, continuing to live in exile in Israel for nearly a decade. Today, the couple and their young daughter, Mlat, have found stability and safety in the United States through the .

“I have seen a real act of kindness for the first time,” said Sami, when members of a sponsor group welcomed his family to Rockville, Maryland. Donna, a member of the sponsor group, said sponsorship provided a real and tangible opportunity to help people. “We feel incredibly blessed to have Sami, Rut, and Mlat in our lives,” she said. “They have made a big difference in our lives, as well.”

Read their inspiring story → https://welcome.us/stories/a-refugee-family-experiences-true-kindness-through-sponsorship

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for Americans to step up as sponsors. Sponsorship is one of the few safe pathways for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Ukrainians, and Venezuelans to find refuge in the United States.

The Welcome Connect platform enables everyday Americans to provide a lifeline for those seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives in the United States.

Individuals or groups in America who want to sponsor a newcomer can start their sponsorship journey by registering at any time on 🔗 Welcome.US/welcome-connect.

Welcome Connect is a FREE platform; you should never pay for access or assistance.

Do not pay money to anyone who claims they can help you find a sponsor or access Welcome Connect for a fee. We are, and will continue, investigating reports of fraud and suspicious activity to block these users from accessing the platform.

Registration for Welcome Connect will be ongoing on a limited and scheduled basis to ensure successful connections between sponsors and beneficiaries.

For more information and resources, visit Welcome.US.

Welcome.US partner Mobile Pathways helps people seeking asylum navigate the challenging legal immigration process to begin their journey in the United States. Their mobile phone technology like the Asylum Navigator helps newcomers understand the law and offers a realistic picture of what the asylum process looks like. Mobile Pathways earned funding from HP, a Welcome.US CEO Council member, as part of the first Digital Equity Accelerator cohort, which helps nonprofits advance digital inclusion to scale their impact.

Learn more about their mission and how you can offer support at MobilePathways.org.

A group of middle school students—who fled Ukraine and Afghanistan with their families for safety in the U.S.—competed in the largest student rocket building contest, sponsored by the Pentagon and NASA.

Watch to learn about their incredible journey ⬇️

Group of immigrant children compete in the world's largest student rocket building competition | Fox News Video Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports on a group of extraordinary children who have seized on the American Dream on 'The Faulkner Focus.’

Happy Independence Day!

Today, as we honor freedom, let's embrace America's core values of equality and a spirit of welcome. Join hundreds of thousands of Welcomers nationwide who are making a difference in the lives of refugee families through sponsorship.

Learn how you can be a part of the transformative mission to welcome newcomers at Welcome.US.

On World Refugee Day, people across the country left messages of welcome for newcomers to the United States, showcasing our nation's incredible willingness to welcome. Swipe to read these inspiring messages 👆

Join us in fostering a supportive environment where newcomer families feel at home. Visit welcome.us/wrd2024 to leave your own message of welcome. There, you can also explore opportunities to join Welcome.US in supporting displaced individuals worldwide.

No act of welcome is too small.

As an active member of Rotary International, Heather Stoa recognized an opportunity to make a life-changing impact in her community through sponsorship. With support from her club, their community sponsored five newcomers from Ukraine.

Heather and the Rotary club welcomed two single mothers and their children to Decatur, Illinois, in March. “We are creating hope. We’re working on peace. We’re helping people have a future,” she said.

Newcomers Tetiana and Alina met in Germany after fleeing with their families during the war, and they bonded over their struggles adjusting. The two mothers were determined to rebuild their lives in the United States together. That’s when they discovered Welcome Connect and matched with Heather and her incredible community through .

Read their inspiring story → https://bit.ly/StoriesOfWelcome-Illinois

"America has long welcomed immigrants and refugees like those in my family who came to this country in search of freedom and opportunity and thrived." Read more:

America must lead by welcoming refugees – as it did decades ago with my own family | George W. Bush Presidential Center Read the article The Struggle For Freedom .. Read Nov 18, 2022 The Struggle For Freedom Welcome to The Struggle for Freedom, a monthly series about democracy and human rights activists abroad and why supporting them is the right thing for Americans to do, strategically as well as morally.

This World Refugee Day, we celebrated the incredible spirit of welcome across America. From coast to coast, communities came together to uplift and support newcomer families rebuilding their lives in the United States. Swipe for highlights from our Day of Welcome activities across the nation. ->

To learn how you can join the community of Welcomers and support newcomers, visit Welcome.US today!

One Week Left! Donate your Marriott Bonvoy points so they are DOUBLED in June: https://bit.ly/Marriott-LoveTravels

For the month of June, Marriott International is matching all point donations to philanthropic partners, up to 25 million points - demonstrating their commitment to Welcome.US and !

Donate now and thank you for your support!
https://bit.ly/Marriott-LoveTravels

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Join Welcome.US for our upcoming Live Information Session to learn how you can provide a pathway to safety for newcomers seeking refuge in the U.S. Our Welcome.US staff and Liz, an experienced sponsor, will share more about what it means to sponsor, who is seeking sponsorship, how you can qualify for financial support, and more. You’ll get a live demo of our Welcome Connect platform and have time to ask questions to our Welcome.US team.

Register today for our next session at 5:30 p.m. EST, Wednesday, June 26. → https://welcome.us/info-sessions

This session is for Americans who are interested in learning more about sponsoring an individual or family who they do not know.

On World Refugee Day, relief organizations celebrated their partnerships with churches to reimagine the American resettlement system. Learn how faith-based groups are making a profound impact through the Welcome Corps program, providing crucial support and hope to refugees fleeing persecution and hardship worldwide.

Read more about their inspiring efforts and the pathways to sponsorship here -> https://bit.ly/WelcomeCorpsChurchLeaders

We thank and celebrate our partners at Lions Clubs International for being Welcomers! In honor of World Refugee Day, read the life changing journey one Lions club experienced as they welcomed families into their New Jersey community.

“My club knows the power of community.” Past Council Chair Mahesh Chitnis writes passionately about his club’s experience welcoming refugee families through the Engage to Change Co-Sponsorship Initiative with Welcome.us. In honor of on June 20, learn more about the Edison Visionary Lions Club’s lifechanging journey through service: https://bit.ly/3KhQuFe

Tomorrow, on World Refugee Day, join Welcome.US in supporting displaced individuals worldwide by sharing a message of welcome with a newcomer to the United States, or by making a donation to support your fellow Americans who are welcoming refugees.

Worldwide, millions of people are displaced, forced to flee their homes due to war and conflict, oppression and persecution, economic collapse and political instability, and natural disaster and climate change. As these crises continue and worsen around the world, so, too, does the number of people displaced. Globally, 120 million people have been displaced from their homes, the highest number historically. No act of welcome is too small.

Together, we can make a difference and provide hope for a brighter future. Learn more at welcome.us/wrd2024.

Ahead of World Refugee Day, we honor and celebrate those who are rebuilding their lives here in the U.S., and thank Americans and communities across the country who are welcoming them. As a global leader in hospitality—one of the world’s fastest growing industries—Marriott International is well positioned to be part of the solution when it comes to empowering newcomers.

Marriott Bonvoy partners with leading nonprofits to ensure workplace readiness and access to opportunity for all, including refugees – with a goal to hire 1,500 refugees in the US by 2025. Their place on the Welcome.US CEO Council ensures they are part of providing solutions. We are thrilled they are stepping up for World Refugee Day and our campaign.

For the month of June, Marriott Bonvoy is matching all point donations to philanthropic partners, up to 25 million points - demonstrating their commitment to !

Donate your Marriott Bonvoy points so they are DOUBLED in June! Click on the “Empower” Tab and select Welcome.US as the philanthropic partner or simply visit: https://bit.ly/Marriott-LoveTravels

Your generosity builds bridges to safety for families in need of refuge. Whether big or small, your donation creates a lasting impact.

Welcome.US is working with Americans across the nation as they provide much-needed support for newcomer families. Together, we're ensuring access to essential resources and fostering welcoming communities.

Join us today! Fuel our mission to welcome newcomers and help them thrive. Visit Welcome.US to donate.

Thank you!

You have the power to help vulnerable families. This World Refugee Day, let's unite to address the growing global displacement crisis. By working with organizations like Welcome.US and the Welcome Corps, we can offer hope and a new beginning to those seeking refuge. With over 120 million people displaced, the need for support is greater than ever. Join us in providing community, opportunity, and a place to thrive for refugee newcomers rebuilding their lives. Visit Welcome.US/wrd2024 to learn more about how to get involved.

Welcome Connect is a FREE platform; you should never pay for access or assistance.

Do not pay money to anyone who claims they can help you find a sponsor or access Welcome Connect for a fee. We are, and will continue, investigating reports of fraud and suspicious activity to block these users from accessing the platform.

Registration for Welcome Connect will be ongoing on a limited and scheduled basis to ensure successful connections between sponsors and beneficiaries.

For more information and resources, visit 🔗 Welcome.US.

Happy Father’s Day! On this day, we say thank you to dedicated fathers around the world who give all that they have to ensure that their families have a chance for a better future. We recognize the incredible support that father’s give to their children to ensure they have the strength to face the day’s hardships and the sacrifices they are making for the sake of their families.

Zyad's story is a testament to a father's unwavering love for his children. Fleeing civil war in Syria, Zyad and his family first sought refuge in Jordan before finding their way to the United States through the Welcome Corps program in 2024. Through the Welcome Corps, Zyad and his family found compassion, community, and stability.

“As we all understand as a child grows, as an individual grows, their needs in life and wants in life also slightly increase and broadens,” he said. “The first and foremost thing a parent thinks about is their children and their future.”

Read Zyad’s story here → bit.ly/StoriesOfWelcome-CT

During Pride Month, we recognize and celebrate our sponsors and partners who help LGBTQ+ refugee newcomers find safety and acceptance in communities across America.

Team Uhuru—a Welcome Corps sponsor group of five friends from Boston—welcomed Rebeca Castro to the United States with open arms. Rebeca faced daily discrimination and bullying because of her sexual identity in her home country of El Salvador. The sponsors, some of whom are musicians and members of the award-winning LGBTQ+ and allied classical chorus, Coro Allegro, Boston, are passionate about providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ refugees. The Uhuru group sponsored Rebeca through the Welcome Corps and were supported throughout the process by their private sponsor organization Rainbow Railroad, a nonprofit that helps LGBTQ+ people find safety worldwide.

“I feel so fine living here because they accept me as I am and not as it was in El Salvador where I was really living a tough time because of my sexual orientation,” Rebeca said.

Read their story → bit.ly/StoriesOfWelcome-Boston

Join us for a Day of Welcome!

In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, Welcome.US and communities nationwide are coming together throughout June to embrace and support refugee newcomers. Swipe 👆 to learn how you can and create a local Day of Welcome with your community. Share your moments with us by tagging .us and using .

Join Welcome.US for a webinar to learn how to sponsor refugees in Latin America through the Welcome Corps. Register today for an English-with-Spanish interpretation session on June 13 at 6 p.m. ET to discover how you can be a bridge to safety for refugees from Latin America at: https://bit.ly/3WZEUpR

Combined Arms is transforming lives by reaching Afghan allies and their families across Texas with vital newcomer support. Led by Khalil Arab, Combined Arms SIVs & Allies Program Manager, they've converted an allies support group into a full-fledged program, meeting the growing needs of thousands of Afghans who arrived in Texas after Kabul fell in 2021. With a dedicated team and a commitment to service, Combined Arms continues to expand its impact, providing crucial resources to those in need. Learn how you can support their mission at CombinedArms.US.

Find out how you can provide a permanent safe haven for Latin American refugees who were forced to flee their homes. Join Welcome.US and a representative from the U.S. Department of State for an informative webinar to learn about sponsoring refugees through the Welcome Corps. Register now for a session in English or English with Spanish interpretation at: https://bit.ly/3WZEUpR